Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-07

hesolEeu, l0al copy VI tuese IesoIu-
tions be forwarded to Hon. Norman j.
Colman, Commissioner of Agriculture at
Washington, D. c., and DR.. D. E. Sal
mon, chief of the Bureau OF Animal In
dustry.
The above is in substance the leading
features of the meeting. The officers
elected for the ensuing year are: A. Z.
Bush, Jr., President; NJ 0. Lynn, Vice
president; and W.. J. Bryan, Secretary
and Treasurer. The convention adj
journed to meet at Colorado City, Tex,
on the Tuesday after the first Monday in
March, 1888. W. j. BRYAN, Sec'y.
LEGETT's ADDRESS.
After a short address of welcome Mr..
Legett said: It would be useless and I'M
wise for me to undertake to offer any sug-
gestions as to the details of the work for
which you have assembled. The purposes
for which your organization was estab
lished, and for which it is now main
tanned, are subjects more familiar to you
than to myself, and are subjects that will
receive no consideration at my hands.
Being engaged in other pursuits, have
been denied the benefit of stock educa-
ton. But in view of the stupendous and
destructive misfortunes which have been
visited upon the interest you gentlemen
represent, obtuseness itself would form
some conception of the causes which have
produced such disastrous results.
The evidences of an agency of destruc-
ton surround US on every hand. You
"have drained the cup to its bitter
dregs;' you have revelled in prosperity;
you have grappled with adversely; you
have seen fortunes come; you nave seen
them go. Within the space of a few brief
years you have seen men grow suddenly
rich; you have seen them grow suddenly
poor: you have seen shrinksge in the
value OF one industry alone in less than
three years Of time of more than $780,
900, 0OO
Fortunes upon fortunes have been
wrecked, until it does seem that the in
dustry is but the shadow of bankruptcy
and insolvency itself In the midst of
these successive reverses we might prof
itably inquire why is it thus? Why this
unbearable depression? If these causes
can be located, what action is required at
your hands to restore former values and
reinstate confidence in the industry? 1t
is TO this subject that | shall for a few
moments address myself.
The stock business is not what it used
are not what they used to be Times have
changed and men have changed with
them. Whether it be the result of q
| special dispensation of Providence in
tended to teach men humility, and that
! they are created instead of being the
creator, or the result Of local or general
causes, do not absolutely know. One
! thing we do know, the changes have been
! pr,ff 10
gone since many of your representa-,
tives distinguished themselves in many
ways and in msny places. When they
travelled they walked into Pullman palace
cars with the air of Rothschild or a
Vanderbilt, glittering aud decked in Jew
elrv OF the latest invention. When they
talked they evidenced a deep-seated sym
patty and looked with downright pity
upon the men engaged in different svo-
cation. Now, when they travel you see
them stealthily approaching the train,
with q siX-bit grip sack, and tske seat
in the front end Of the smoker Just be-
hind the engine. If an emigranG car is
attached to the tram you sometimes find
them there.
You might have approached then and
asked one what ne considered himself
say $3.50, 900, he would thumb his vest
and respond, well, about two and one
half. Approach him now and PROFOUND
the same question, and with q dropping
countenance he will respond. l amt
worth a damn.
Whether or not this be retributive JUS
lice we may be divided in opinion, but
that the cattle industry of Texas is
I w ha
ton. The agencies which have caused
this wholesale depression are susceptible
of two classitications. They are first,
general causes, and secondly, special or
individual cause. The former are causes
over which Individually you can exercise
no control, which briefly stated are these.
l. Unfriendly and hurtful legislation.
,. A system of railroads pooling, by
which you have been compelled to pay
double freight in order to get your cattle
to market.
;. The existence of "rings" in Kansas
your cattle is controlled after they reach
the market.
! t. The want of adequate quarantine
regulations by which your cattle may be
protected from the ravages of imported
| diseases.
| ). The existence of strict quarantine
laws IN other territories. by means of
which corrupted agencies prevent the
| free expectation of your cattle.
! e. The want of dressing and canning
establishments st home.
| I. Better facilities for water transpor-
tation. Various other causes might be
assigned, but l consider these the chief
causes.
The evils resulting to your interests
| from the existence Of these causes have
been ably aud deliberately presented by
the quasi-metropolltan journals of the
country, aud by some of the ablest
men il the state. Colonel Hughes, in
| his well prepared speech before your
state convention in Dallas, in January
| last, furnished the ablest EXPOSE
ton of your troubles that has
yet been given to the public.
He demonstrates with mathenati-
cial certainty that the cattle interest of
Texas has suffered 8 depression of more
that Sl25, 100000 in the last three years,
and that it is to-day worth less than one
third what it was at that time.
He places the loss of this princley sum
where it chiefly belongs, at the door of
| the Legislature, and at the hands of that
accursed land board.
1t was the cattle interest that first
! brought our state into prominence, and
! the wholesale slaughter of that interest
! has checked and turned the tide of immi-